[VIETNAM-CAMBODIA] SIAMREAP WRAP!

After a long night couched in Night bus from phnompenh. Me and boyfie continued our journey to the biggest city with the biggest temple complex in the world. Yep, SIAM REAP. We were super exciting yet tiring. So lets follow our journey.

SIAMREAP IN ONE DAY

  

#1

TAKING A SLEEP BUS

Took giantibis bus from phnompenh. Departed on 23.00 bus is the best option to catch Angkor wat's sunrise. And right after arrived dont forget to contact your tuktuk driver! Or if you didnt have reservation, so many available tuktuk driver outside the bus terminal so dont worry ♡

#2

BUY TICKET

So later your tuktuk driver will take you to the ticket office. You can decide whether 1 day pass (US$37) , 2 day pass (US$ 62) , 3 day pass (US$72) ( updated 2017 1st march) well.. quite expensive but ya we help to preserved the temples. For me 1 day is MORE THAN ENOUGH but if you a historical cray .. bye HAHA and they take our pic and print on the ticket so it cant be transferable. Cute :3 and dont lose your ticket because they check everytime we entered the temple.

#3

TUK TUK DRIVER

having a good tuk tuk driver is the must or you'll can enjoy the trip. So actually for driver, i already made reservation ahead because o worried i gonna lose the sunrise. So while i scrolled my instagram, i found someone posted about the information about tuktuk driver and i directly contact him by whatsapp. Actually it should be MR. NASIR +855977256503 he speaks english well and melayu. But because he was busy, it was replaced by MR. MALIKI +85569914959 who mostly speaks melayu. Super happy. He gave use water and wet tissue services and also took us for some small temples out of the itinerary. 

For the price (per tuktuk)

short one day tour US$15 

Big one day tour US$20

And many other optionals

So we took short course one day, it is included only fews big famous temples 

#4

ENJOY TEMPLES

We were super exciting at first until i forget.. i was using SHORT FAKKK!!  Super super super dont forget to use a proper clothes no shorts no tanktop for girls but ok shorts for boys. So i finally bought a sarong to cover my short for US$15 damn.. tourist scam bug nothing i could do hik :"" if you buy in a night market it only costs US$5.

Ok continue to the sunrise haha it was pretty but quite foggy so the pictures didnt come out as i expected ( now i knew the function of 3daypass for catching other sunrise HAHA) but sorry guys im not a huge fan of temples so i easily forgetted all temple names, but usually 3 must visited temples are Angkor wat,Bayon Temple, & Ta Promh.

Angkorwat area

Entrace gate 

Giant trunk

Beautiful Ta Promh that famous because of tomb raider

Temple by the river 

#5

LUNCH INSIDE TEMPLES AREA

usually your driver will offer you lunch or snack. And because we were super hungry, we chose a local resto and ordered cambodian best local food, Loclac ( stir fried pork) and fish amok ( curry in a coconut) for around US$17/each. Which is quite expensive but i thought it was worth it because you are in tourist object and how food can be cheap. And fortunately, it tasted good so we had no regret.

Our dessert sugar cane drink

#6

NIGHT LIFE AT PUB STREET

after done our temple tour, around 2pm right after lunch, we asked our driver just taking us back to hostel in Pub street area or also known as Backpacker area in Siamreap. We stayed at Onederz Hostel. It's quite new so super clean and has swimming pool HAHA ok back to Pubstreet info, life here starts when the sky turns dark. So many streets food comes out and bar opens.

US$1 banana pancake

US$2 pork sausage fried rice

US$1 ice coffee

Ice cream rolls

#7

LONG GONE CHILDHOOD ICECREAM

hik super happy!! We found our childhood icecream, Swensen's. After no more in Indonesia, and last 2014 in singapore, ♡ my fav banana sundae (US$4.5) we can choose 3 flavours nyam!

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SIAMREAP is much better than phnompenh (in my opinion) super alive and lots of good food. So its not only about temple but also so many other attraction around :)

[VIETNAM-CAMBODIA] LESS THAN 12 HOURS IN PHNOMPENH

They called it land of temples yes i've never imagined about this country. But after browsed, it is quite near with vietnam so me and my boyfie planned to go there. 

CAMBODIA 

Unique facts:

#1 they use US DOLLAR and give change in CAMBODIAN RIEL so becareful it will make you confused

1US$= KMR 4000

#2 all tourists objects close to each other within walk distance ( 500m~1km)

#3 main transportation : TUKTUK so if you lazy take it! Usually half day tour or one day tour costs US$ 4-10

From vietnam you can take flight for saving your time or taking a bus for budget saver. We took " mekong express bus" from phamngulao area in hcmc direct to Phnompenh, the capital city for about 7 hours drive. Many people comes here just for transit before go to the main city attraction, Siam reap. Because actually no many things to be seen in this city. If you browsed from Tripadvisor, youll find Genoside museum and Khmer killing field museum to visit. But for me, those place is creepy and scary, so i skipped to more touristy happy place HAHA so here some of things 

12 HOURS LESS IN PHNOMPENH

#1

VISIT THE ROYAL PALACE

Samdach Sothearos Blvd (3), Phnom Penh, Cambodia

(Open 8-11 am/ 2pm-5pm) ticket price : US$4

SUPER PRETTY ♡ i thought cambodia is more to thailand side. You can see the royal palace pretty similar looked with Thailand royal palace also. If you historical lover go inside but if you like me just do picnic outside of it HAHA

#2

VISIT CAMBODIA NATIONAL MUSEUM

Preah Ang Eng St. (13), Phnom Penh, Cambodia

(Open 8am-5pm) ticket price: US$5

I also not entered this museum because it mostly focuses on sculpture HAHA. And at night usually they also perform traditional dance here.

#3

SHOPPING AT CENTRAL MARKET

Neayok Souk, Phnom Penh 855, Cambodia

(Open 8am-6pm)

damn it i came here to late and it closed hikkkk it still looked fancy even at night. It super big so you can buy everything local here.

#4 

NIGHT PRAY AT WAT PHNOM

ផ្លូវវត្តភ្នំ, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

(Open time 8am-6pm) admission price US$1

well they said but i came here like 8pm HAHA and still opened. Super pretty at night all in yellow goldy light ♡ 

#5

STREET FOOD HUNTING!

Their street food super similar sith vietnamese. Banh mi, pork satay, fried banana, just fit my taste ♡ cost so cheap and dont forget to ask price before order.

#6

TRYING CAMBODIAN KFC

the best experience me and my boyfie ever had in phnompenh yes their KFC TASTED LIKE HEAVEN. Fun fact in Cambodia DOESNT HAVE MCDONALDS cray right?? Ckckckckc so we had kfc and here kfc all priced using USDOLLAR. We ordered 3 chickens+side dish ( bread and mashed potato)+ drink ( they have LEMONTEA!!) and additional potato wedges for USD 8? So cheap and yummy even better tasted than indonesian kfc  HAHAHA

[VIETNAMCAMBODIA] 5 MUST BUY SNACKS FROM VIETNAM

As we are indonesian, we never go home with empty hands right HAHA oleh-oleh harus beli tetep. For foreigner that read my blog, indonesian is different with westerner, we dont really like art stuffs but we totally love key chains, cheap t-shirt, and also... SNACKS! so here some of my recommendation WHAT VIETNAM BEST "EATABLE" SOUVERNIR and where to find it

#1

PIA DUREN or DURIAN CAKE?

price range : VND 35000~65000

Indonesian lovessss durian and vietnam sells the best pia  duren i've ever eaten ♡ super thin outer layer and stuffy real durian inside. So many brands in the market but usually the famous one is xinhua park, where you can find in traditional market for around VND 45000 for 4 giant pieces or cheaper one like the one i bought in big c for VND35000 for 6 normal sized individually packed 

#2

VIETNAMESE COFFEE

price range : VND 40000~100000

coffee culture in vietnamese just turned me into coffee addict. Whn i was there i bought coffee for more than 4 times a day. So as you know, super famous G7coffee, or highland 3in1 coffee, and for me nescafe caphe suada is the best and the cheapest (VND40000) HAHA or for black coffee lover you can buy also fresh grind coffee.

#3

DRIED FRUITS

price range : VND 30000~50000

similar with thailand, vietnam also famous with their dried fruit especially jackfruits.

#4

COCONUT CANDY

price range: VND 30000~40000

Originally from mekong delta area but also available in supermarket with more expensive price. Stick on your tooth but delicious HAHA pandan or durian taste for the best

#5

CORN MILK

price range: VND 5000~15000

my currently addiction ♡ where you can find corn milk outside vietnam? HAHA unique taste, best drink to balance vietnamese food.

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WHERE TO BUY?

Hochiminh @ Benthan market

Danang @ Han market/ Chon market

Hanoi @ Dong Xuan Market

Or 

Big C Supermarket

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[VIETNAM-CAMBODIA] MEKONG EXPRESS BUS VS GIANT IBIS ?

When i browsed about bus from vietnam to cambodia, i found lots tons of bus company. But only 2 big companies on top of all. And i decided to try both just for making comparison which have better service. Both super similar in services and schedule but Lets find out! 

MEKONG EXPRESS

Www.catmekongexpress.com

( check their website for schedule and office address)

Used route : 

HCMC- PHNOMPENH US$12 ( travel time: 7 HOURS) 

 SIAMREAP-HCMC US$24 ( travel time: 15 HOURS incd. 1 hour transit in phnompenh)

Its like my first time after long time bus trip back then when i was in highschool ( almost 6years). So usually people gathers at Mekong express bus office like 30 minutes before departure and they are not really on time but still ok maybe only passed 5 or 10 minutes than departure time. Not long time after departed, the guide will inform about travel time, areas will be passed, and SERVICES hihi so we will get a box of snack ( inside 2 pieces of bread sponsores by ABC BAKERY HAHA), mineral water and wet tissue, so nice la HAHA. 

And around 2 or 3 hours later, the guide will collect passport and help for border handling. For non-asean passport should pay cambodian around US$25. And after that we went out from the bus twice for vietnam border and cambodian border, take only around 30 minutes. After that we entered cambodia and amazed with casino hotels right after the border HAHA And after that we did toilet stop in a restaurant, where you can buy snack, heavy food, or just for toilet before we arrive at Mekong express final destination.

And all services were same with my SIAMREAP-HCMC trip but before i thought it was a direct bus to HCMC but actually they did transit in phnompenh for around 1 hour before departed again.

conclusion

(+)

Snacks

toilet in all buses

mini van also available and price range similar with bigbus

more destination (like siamreap-hcmc)

Have discount for online booking

Border service

(-)

Bus looks older than giant ibis

No sleep bus

Cambodia card

Snacks

Mekong express water 

Vietnam border

Cambodia border

GIANT IBIS 

Www.giantibis.com

( check their website for schedule and office address)

Used route:

PHNOMPENH-SIAMREAP US$15 (travel time: 6HOURS 30 MINUTES)

time for giant ibis now! Actually sorry maybe its not a good comparison since i used different service ( day and night service) hik so i booked sleep bus from phnompenh to siamreap. Same with mekong express around 30 minutes before departure, bus already opened and we got in. But for sleep bus, when we entering, we have to take off our shoes and they will give us plastic. SUPER UNIQUE SLEEP BUS HAHAAHAH I NEVER SAW THIS IN INDONESIA. On the left side just small single bed for single traveller and rightside double bed for sharing. Not so many beds maybe only around 15 beds in total (bunkbeds). It has electricity plug, pillow, and blanket. I felt it was not really clean but its okay because it was dark inside.  Not long after information from guide they gave us mineral water and turned off the light. And after arrived and got out from the bus, they were giving wet tissue.

conclusion

(+)

Very comfortable sleep bus

"New" look bus

(-)

US$1 charge for online booking

Toilet only available in sleep bus, regular bus doesnt have it

Well! After all, each bus has plus and minus point but if you ask me to choose, i cannot do it because i feel like both were worth the price :) so hope this post can help you choose what the best for you and our schedule!

Ciao!